Device for fastening journal-box lids.



M. T. MAcP HERSON.

D'EVICE'FOR FASTENING JOURNAL BOX LIDS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV 28, 1914.

Patented Feb. 1

THE COLUMBIA PLAI'JOGRAPH c0 WASHINGTON n c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MALCOLM T. mxcrnnnson, or BELOIT, onro, ASSIGNOB. TO AMERICAN STEELroun- DBIES, or NEW YORK, n. x, A coaronArron on NEW JERSEY.

DEVICE FOR FASTENING JOURNAL-BOX LIDS.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MALCOLM T. MAC- PHnRs'oN,a citizen of the United States, and resident of Beloit, in the county ofMahoning and State of Ohio, have invented cer- "tain new and usefulImprovements in De- .vices for Fastening Journal-Box Lids, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to journal boxes for use on railway cars and hasparticular reference to a novel lid for use in connection therewith.

The closing means for journal boxes has been the subject of muchimprovement and many of the devices have been found to be. efficient inservice. However, many objections have been found to some thereof, andit is an object of this invention to provide means which shall securelyhold the lid in place on the box both by gravity and spring means, thespring being employed merely to maintain the locking device in positionand not as a primary holding element.

A further object is to provide such a device with a spring holdingmeans, the spring being located entirely outside of the box. This is adesirable feature inasmuch as if the box takes fire and the spring islocated internally of the lid the temper is taken out of the spring andit is thereafter useless.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is the front elevation of ajournal box and lid constructed in accordance with my invention, andFig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings it Will be seen that ajournal box 10 is provided with ears or lugs 11 to which a lid 12 ispivoted by means of a bolt 13. This is a simple pivot, no springs beingemloyed in connection therewith. On the sides of the box are providedlugs or ears 14 having grooved recesses 15 therein with which a lockingrod 16 cooperates. This rod is mounted on apertured bosses 17 providedon the faceof the lid, and the rod has Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

Application filed November 28, 1914. Serial No. 874,465.

its ends ofiset as at 18 in order to provide an eccentric 15 forcooperation with the re cesses 1n the ears. Secured to the rod 16 is -ahandle 19 having a weighted end 20 and a lug or projection 21. Aslightly curved leaf spring 22 is riveted to the face of the box'andprojects into the arc of movement of the lug 21. The arrangement is suchthat the handle and rod may be rotated, the cocentric ends of the rodsengaging the recesses in the ears and securely forcing the lid intoplace. At that point the lug 21 has reached a location substantiallycoincident with or past the center of rotation of the rod and the spring22 holds the handle and rod in proper position. In case the springbecomes weakened or broken the weighted end 20 of the handle will serveto hold the parts in proper position. If desired the handle member maybe provided with another lug 23 similar to the lug 21, adapted tocontact the spring 22 and hold the eccentrio-rod in inoperativeposition.

I claim:

1. In combination, a journal box having ears provided with curvedrecesses open at the top, a lid, a shaft carried by the lid and havingoffset portions the ends thereof being parallel to the main portion ofthe shaft for entering the open top and latching into the curvedrecesses of said ears, and means adapted to maintain said shaft inadjusted position, substantially as described.

2. In combination, a journal box having lugs provided with curvedrecesses, a lid, a shaft on said lid, said shaft being offset at itsends and said ends extended in a line parallel to said shaft so thatwhen said shaft is turned said ends are brought into engagement withsaid lugs, an arm for par tially rotating said shaft and a spring 00-operating with said arm to maintain the arm and shaft in either of twopositions, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, the

combination of a box having recessed lugs a lid locking shaft carried bythe lid; the trio ends of the shaft against said higs, and

ends of theshaft being eccentric to the body means for holding saidshaft in such wedged thereof parallel therewith and adapted to position,substantially as described. occupy the recesses in said lugs when saidMALCOLM T; MAOPHERSON.

lid is in closed position, an arm on said Witnesses: V shaft, sald armbeing adapted to cause rota- LAUNA CARLISLE, tlon of said shaft and toWedg the eccen- E. P. KINNE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. t i

